Apparatus for blowing oil wells



Feb. 19, 1946. J. B. HAWLEY, JR

APPARATUS FOR BLOWING OIL WELLS Filed April 10, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l WMNI I HW MHM Feb. 19, 1946. HAWLEY,'JR 2,395,119

APPARATUS FOR BLOWING OIL WELLS Fild April 10, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor-.- Q Hnvvu-zr m u h Attorney.

Feb. 19, 1946. J. B. HAWLEY, JR

APPARATUS FOR BIJOWING OIL WELLS 3 sheets-sheets Filed April 10, 1944 r RMMWJ m mm Patented'feb. 19,

orrlca APPARATUS FOR BLOWING OIL WELLS John a. Hawley, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.

Application April 10, 1944, Serial No. 530,312

' 17 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for blowing oil from an oil well or from an oil well casing. The methods-heretofore used in blowing oil from oil wells have been quite inefllcient due to the fact that a very large volume of compressed air has been wasted. It is expensive to compress the air and it is desirable to use as little of compressed air as possible.

It is an object of this invention therefore, to provide an apparatus for blowing oil from an oil well or oil well casing which requires the use of a comparatively small quantity of compressed air.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for blowing oil from an oil well or oil well casing in which a casing extending down to the oil supply is closed adjacent its bottom to form a chamber above said oil supply, a volume of air is supplied to said chamber to form a pressure therein and this pressure it suflicient, is used to actuate a supply or air under pressure through an air supply conduit extending to said chamber to force oil through a discharge conduit extending to the oil supply. It is also an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for blowing oil from an oil well which comprises a casing extending down to the oil supply, means for closing off said casing adjacent the oil supply to form a chamber above said supply, a comparatively large discharge conduit extending downwardly through said casing to said oil supply, an oil supply conduit extending downwardly in said casing to said chamber, means tor supplying a volume of air through saidair supply conduit to said chamber to form'a pressure therein which pressure can be utilized to connect a source of air under pressure to said air supply conduit to force oil through said discharge conduit.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such an apparatus as set forth in the preceding paragraph, together with means operated by the column of discharged oil in said discharge ,conduit for shutting oi the supply oi air under pressure'to said air supply conduit.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for discharging oil from an oil well comprising a casing extending down to the oil supply, a packer in said casing adjacent the lower end thereof whereby a chamber is formed above said oil supply below said packer, a discharge conduit extending through said packer to the oil supply, a small conduit extending through said packer to said chamber together with means for supplying a volume of air through said small conduit to said chamber for forming a pressure therein and means for utilizing said ressure to force air under pressure through said small conduit to discharge air through said discharge conduit.

It is another object or the invention to provide an' apparatus for blowing oil from an oil well comprising avcasing extending to the oil supply, means for closing of! said casing adjacent the bottom thereof to form a chamber above said oil supply, a discharge conduit extending through said means to adjacent the bottom of said'casing and into the oil supply, a small conduit extending through said means into said chamber, means for supplying a volume of air through said small conduit to said chamber, a pressure means controlling a supply or air under pressure, which supply is adapted to be connected to said small conduit and a means actuated by the pressure in said chamber for controlling said pressure means whereby the pressure in said chamber if sufli'cient, will cause said pressure means to connect said source of air under pressure to said small conduit for forcing oil through said discharge conduit,-

It is still further an object'of the invention to provide an apparatus such asset forth in It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for blowing oil from an oil well comprising a casing extending downwardly to the oil supply, a packer adjacent the bottom of' said casing forming a chamber above said oil supply, a discharge. conduit extending through said packer down into the oil supply, a small conduit extending through said packer to said chamber, a source of air under pressure, a pressure means such as a diaphragm valve for shutting oil said source of air under pressure from said small conduit, means for exhausting the pressure in said chamber, means for supplying a volume of air to said chamber to form a pressure therein, a pilot valve actuated by said pressure if sufficient and connections between said pilot valve and said pressure means whereby the latter is actuated to supply air under prescasing ll extends from the ground level l2 to the stratum Ill. A body of cement or similar material I3 is disposed about the bottom of casing II at the bottom thereof forming a seal and also assisting to steady or hold said casing in position. In accordance with the present invention a packer i4 is provided and disposed adjacent the bottom of casing Ii so that a chamber I5 is formed above the level l6 of the oil supp y as shown in Fig. 1. The level of oil changes at difl'erent times. A discharge conduit l8 of comparatively large size is provided, the same extending through packer i4 downwardly in casing I l to a point a considerable distance below the oil supply. While this casing could be variously disposed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as having a sleeve is secured thereto which is attached to a framework 20 extending across the top of easing II and supported on the ground. The packer l4 comprises a body of expansible or resilient material l4a at the intermediate portion thereof below which is a rigid member such as a casting Mb. Member I4!) is shown as supported on a collar or flange l8a formed onor secured to conduit I8. Another member or casting l4c rests on the top of portion Ha, it being noted that the diameter of members I41) and [4c is somewhat less than the inner diameter of casing II. Conduit l8 extends freely through portions Ma and [40 but as stated, supports portion I4b and-substantially fits therein. A plate l4e surmounts member He and has an upwardly extending hub l4 in which is secured the lower end of a small pipe or conduit 22 which extends below member 1 4b into chamber I5 and extends upwardly above casing ll. Conduit l8 passes loosely through plate Me. With the described structure it will be seen that member a will be compressed between member Nb and members I40 and Me. The weight of conduit 22 presses on the top of member l4a so that said member is compressed and expanded against the inner wall of easing II to tightly seal the same. Since the casing I i may be approximately 3000 feet in length the weight oi conduit 22 is considerable.

Conduit 22 extends above casing II and is connected to a valve casing 23 having a valve seat above the top of conduit 22 with which cooperates a valve 24 having a valve stem 24a extending through the top of casing 23 and through a casing 25 having extending transversely thereof a flexible diaphragm 26. Valve rod 24a has a flange at its top pressing against or secured to the bottom of diaphragm 26. A compression coiled spring 21 overlies the center of diaphragm 26 and engages the top of casing 25. Casing 25 has an exhaust opening or vent 25a above diaphragm 26. A small conduit 29 extends from casing .25 below diaphragm 26 and extends to a valve casing 30 having a valve seat 30a with which cooperates a valve 3| to close the opening or passage. to a conduit 32 opening to the atmosphere. Valve 3| has a valve stem Ila which extends to one side of a casing 33 having diaphragm 34 extending transversely thereof substantially atthe center thereof; Valve stem 3la will be secured to one side of said diaphragm and a compression coiled spring 35 presses at one end upon diaphragm 34 and at its other end against one side of casing 33, said spring acting to hold valve 3| in closed position. A conduit 36 extends from the other side of casing 33 into discharge conduit l8 and has a downturned end 35a which may be in the form of a Pitot tube adapted to be acted upon by a column of oil'moving in discharge conduit I8. Discharge conduit I6 is shown as extending laterally and having a terminal discharging into a storage tank 38 lllustrated as supported upon a framework 39 and having a valve controlled discharge means 40. Casing 33-has a vent opening 331: at the side of diaphragm 34 at which spring 35 is disposed.

A conduit 42 connects with conduit 29 and extends to and is connected to the chamber in a pilot valve casing 43. Casing 43 has a vent opening 43a adjacent its upper end and a plug 44 threaded in its top, the same having an angular or hexagonal portion 44a to which a tool may be applied for turning said plug. The lower end of plug 44 is reduced in diameter and disposed within a compression coiled spring 45, the other end of which surrounds a projection upstanding from a plunger valve 46. Valve 46 has spaced portions 46a and 46b fitting in the bore of casing 43, which portions are connected by a portion 460 of reduced diameter. Another valve 4'! fits in the bottom of the bore of casing 43, the same having a short projecting portion 41a of reduced diameter at its lower end and a longer portion 41b of reduced diameter at its upper end, which latter is shown as engaging the bottom of portion 46b. A branch conduit 49 extends from conduit 42 and communicates with the bore of casing 43 between portion 46b and valve 41 in the position shown in Fig. 1. Casing 43 has a vent or exhaust opening or conduit 50 extending therefrom between portions 46a and 46b in the position shown in Fig. 1. Another conduit 5| communi-- cates with the bore of casing 43 intermediate the ends of valve portion 46a in the position shown in Fig. 1 and said conduit 5| is provided with a throttle valve 52. Conduit 5| extends to and is connected toa conduit 54 which connects with a conduit 55. Conduit 55 is connected to the chamber in valve casing 23 above valve 24. Conduit 55 also extends to a large tank or accumulator 56 which may be connected by conduit 51 to an air compressor.

The lower portion of the bore of pilot valve casing 43 has connected thereto a conduit 59. Conduit 59 extends to the casing of a rotary cycle control valve 60 having a shaft 6! secured thereto which is driven by any suitable mechanism such as a worm wheel gear 62 in turn driven by a worm gear 63 secured to a shaft 64 which is driven from a motor 65 preferably through change gears indicated diagrammatically as 66.

Rotary valve 60 has a passage 60a extending diametrically therethrough and which is adapted to connect a passage 60b with a passage 600, which latter is in turn connected to conduit 59. Passage 6ilb is connected toconduit 68 which is connected to conduit 22 below valve casing 23. The passage 66a is also adapted to connect a passage 60d extending to the atmosphere with a, passage Glle also connected to conduit 68. The passage 60d has quite a long port 60f extending about the periphery of rotary valve 60, which port extends close to passage 66c so that in the rotation of valve 64 port 64! may be connected momentarily to the passage 800 by the passage 60a. A conduit Ill extends from passagestllb and 60a to the casing ll of a plunger valve I2 having spaced plungers 12a and 12b connected by a reduced portion or rod, plunger 12b having a projection 12c extending into a compression coiled spring 14, one. end of which engages the bottom of plunger 12b and the other end of which engages the bottom of casing ll. Casing II is provided adjacent its top and bottom respectively with vent openings Ila and lib. Plunger II has a pin or small rod projecting from its upper end through the top of casing 'l l and disposed to be acted upon by a rotary cam 15 secured to shaft 4|. A conduit 15 communicates with the bore of casing H between plungers 12a and 12b in the position shown in Fig. 1, which conduit 16 is connected to a tank or container [1 for compressed air. Another conduit 18 extends from the bore of casing 1| intermediate the ends of plungers 12b as shown in Fig. 1, which conduit 18 is connected to conduit 54.

As stated, the invention has to do with the automatic operation or cycling that will apply air to the oil in the oil supply or reservoir at the bottom of casing II at a pressure that is a fraction of the pressure required to discharge a full column of oil in discharge conduit l8. For instance, in a well in which it would be approximately 3000 feet in casing H to the oil supply approximately 1200 pounds of pressure would be required to discharge 19 barrels or mor of oil in a blowing cycle since l9 barrels would fill the conduit l8, assuming the same to be a 2 /2 inch tubing. If the blowing were properly timed so that when 800 feet of the tubing would be filled equivalent to only five barrels, then 300 pounds of pressure would discharge a slug of oil approximately 800 feet long in discharge conduit I6. While various sizes might .be used for conduit 22, this will preferably be made of one inch' tubing. The time of discharging the oil is set by a time cycling valve, which in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is valve 60, and this will be operated in accordance with the flow of oil in the casing i I.

When the reservoir or oil supply in the bottom of easing I I has reached practically up to member 14b as shown in Fig. 1, valve 60 which will be constantly rotated at the desired speed will come into position to connect passage tile with passage 60d. This, through conduit 22 and 68, will connect chamber 15 to the atmosphere. This will exhaust any pressure which may have developed above the supply of oil. Oils in the ground contain gases such as propane, butane, methane and others and some pressure may develop in chamber I5. In the rotation of cam 15 valve I2 will be intermittently depressed against the pressure of spring 14 and when th chamber between plungers 12a and 12b moves downwardly. conduit is shut ofi and conduits 16 and 18 are connected for a period. A charge of air under pressure from accumulator 56 will then pass through conduit 54 and conduit 18 through the chamber in casing H and conduit 16 to tank or container 11. This tank will then be charged with a supply of air under pressure. This charge is retained in the tank as valve 12 is quickly moved upward by pring I4 as cam rotates shutting of! conduit 18. In the further rotation of valve 60 it comes to the position shown in Fig. 1 and passage 66b is closed. When valve I2 is moved upward by spring 14 the charge or air in tank 11 can then discharge through conduit 'l6,the

chamber in valve casing ll between plungers 12a and 12b as shown in Fig. 1, through conduit I0, conduit 68 and conduit 22. A volume.

01 air is thus charged into or supplied to chamber 15. Chamber 15 has just previously been exhaustedoi pressure so that the pressure therein when air is supplied from tank 11, will be that caused by said charge of air. If the level of oil has risen so as to be close to the packer i4 as shown in Fig. 1, this pressure will be rather,

7 high. If the level of oil is lower. the pressure will be comparatively small. In the continued rotation of valve 66 passage 60a will come into alignment with passages 60b and 600 and a communication will thenbe established through conduit 22, conduit 66, passage 6llb, passage 66c and conduit 59 to the lower part of valve casin 43. "If the pressure in chamber l5 exceeds a certain amount, plunger 41 will be lifted, thus lifting valve 46. The vent passage 50 will be closed by plunger 46b and the conduit 5| will be uncovered by plunger 46a. Air under pressure can then pass from accumulator 56, conduit 55, conduit 54, conduit 5| through throttle valve 52 to the bore of valve casing 43 between plungers 46a and 46b and through conduit 42 to the lower chamber in casing 25. This pressure will lift the central part of diaphragm 26 against the pres- I sure of spring 21 and this will lift valve rod 24a and valve 24. Air under full pressure in accumulator 56 can now pass through conduit 55 through valve casing 23 and downwardly around valve 24 into conduit 22. This air under the desired pressure is thus delivered to chamber I5. This pressure will force out the accumulated oil in the bottom of easing Ill until said oil level drops below the lower end of conduit Id. The body or slug of oil will then be forced upward in discharge conduit i8 by the air and will be discharged into the tank 38. When the body or slug of oil approaches the top of. conduit l8 it will engage and act on the tube 36a which has an open lower end. A pressure will be set up in conduit 36 and this will act to move diaphragm 34 in casing 33 to the left as shown in Fig. 1. This will compress spring 35 and open valve 6|. When valve 3| is open the pressure at the lower side of diaphragm 26 in casing 25 is exhausted 'through conduit 20, valve casing 30 and conduit '62. Valve 24 can then move to its closed position by gravity and the action of spring 21. The body or slug of oil moving upwardin discharge conduit 18 has attained such velocity when it reaches tube 3611 that it will continue on upward and be discharged into tank 38. When conduit 29 was connected tothe atmosphere as described,

' through casing 30 and vent pipe 32 the pressure below valve 46 was also exhausted through conduit 49. It will also be noted that immediately after passage 600 is cut oil by the rotation of valve 60 and after pressure has been supplied when the pressure is exhausted from beneath valve 46 through conduit 49 valve 46 can drop to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1. Valve I 46 is also moved downwardly by spring 45, The tension of spring 45 can be varied by turnin plug 44 to regulate the pressure on pilot valve 46 to suit different conditions in different wells.

In Fig. 3 a modified form of the invention is shown in which casing H is used and the concrete or cement I3 is shown around the bottom thereof. A packer 85 is disposed adjacent the bottom of easing H and some distance above the oil supply. This packer has a lower member or casting 85a supported upon an air supply pipe 86, which pipe 86 extends to the bottom of the well and is supported on said bottom. Pipe 86 fits into a bore in member 85a and against a shoulder therein so that as stated, member 85a rests upon pipe 86. Packer 85 also includes a body of compressible or resilient material 85b and another top member 850 is disposed above and rests upon the material 85b. Member 850 has a conduit or cylindrical portion 85d extending downwardly therefrom and fitting in portion 85b, the same having a peripheral flange or collar 85c at its lower end which fits in a bore in member 85a. An upper'air supply pipe 81 has its lower end fitting in a bore in member 850 and this pipe 81 extends upwardly to a connecting member 90, pipe 81 being threaded into member 96. Member 98 has a central bore 90:: which flares upwardly to an enlarged portion 90b. The pipe 9| extends into and is secured to member 90, the same communicating with bore 90a and being adapted to form ari air supply so that air can be supplied to air pipes 86 and 8]. Packing or closure members 82 are disposed in bores 90a and 96b and are held in place by a follower 93 having aportion fitting in bore portion 90b and held in position by headed and nutted bolts 94 extending through its outer portion and into the top of member 98. An oil discharge pipe 96 extends centrally downwardly in casing H and inside of air supply pipes 86 and 81, and thus through packer 85. Pipe 96 will be supported in a tapered block or plug 98 through which it extends, said plug being fitted into a tapered bore in the top member 99a of a frame 99 resting upon the ground. The ground level as before described, is shown as I 2. Air supply pipe 86 is provided with a plurality of holes or openings 86a a short distance below packer 85, and while these might be variously arranged, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, they are shown as disposed in vertically spaced rows. Said conduit 86 also has a plurality of similar holes 8612 some distance below the holes 86a and a short distance above the lower end of oil discharge pipe 86. Oil discharge pipe 96 will, of course, extend a predetermined distance into the oil supply.

In operation air supply pipes8l and 86 will take the place 'of .air supply pipe 22 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and will be connected to the valve casing 23 and to the valve 68 as shown in said figures. When the pipe 81 is connected to the air supply from accumulator 56, as above described, this air will force the oil which has risen to a level adjacent packer 85 downwardly and up through oil discharge pipe 96. The oil will be discharged until the level drops below the lower holes 86b. After the oil drops below holes 86a, air will pass through said holes to exert pressure on the oil in casing H and force it through holes 8612 and into pipe 96. The oil will be forced out until it drops below the lower end of pipe 96. The oil originally enters pipe 86 through holes 86b and 86a. A body or slug of oil will thus be discharged 'through'pipe 96 as above described. Pipe 96 will be provided with the tube 36a and connections as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The control of air to pipe 81 and the preliminary exhausting of the pressure above the oil supply and just below packer in the cycle of operations will be performed as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. The construction shown in Fig. 3 permits the use of a bottom support type of packer where the weight of the upper and larger diameter air supply conduit 81 is used to expand the compressible member 85b of the packer.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a very efiicient apparatus for blowing oil wells. It will be noted that a comparatively small volume of compressed air is used to discharge the slug of oil. This is merely the volume that passes from the accumulator down through conduit 22 and upward beneath the body or slug of oil until it reaches and operates valve 3|. It will be understood that the discharge tube ill will extend below packer M a distance determined by tl'ie size of the slug of oil to be discharged. If it were desired to discharge five barrels of oil in each body or slug of oil discharged this distance could be feet with a 2 inch discharge conduit and a 7 inch casing. The timing of valve 66 of course determines the periods of blowing. There must be suflicient oil on hand to be blown out and to create a pressure suflicient to operate pilot valve 46.

There are some wells which naturally and automatically blow when the pressure above the oil level becomes sufiicient. The periods of blowing of such wells could be controlled by a method and apparatus such as above described. The volume or amount of air delivered to chamber 15 by valve 66 can be determined by varying the size of the tank 71. It will be obvious that the method and apparatus will have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

.In some wells where thenatural rate of oil accumulation in the pocket tapped is fixed and known, the need for repeatedly admitting test charges of air to ascertain whether or not the fluid level has risen to the desired blow point, as described in the foregoing, would not occur and the rotary control valve 60 would be replaced by a simple mechanical or electrical timing circuit to open and cut off air flow in accordance with the cyclic demands of the particular well.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the for-m, details, and proportions of the apparatus without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in an apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth and as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination, a casing extending to the oil supply, a packer disposed in said casing adjacent said oil supply for sealing said casing and forming a chamber below said packer, an air supply conduit in said casing extending through said packer, a source of air under pressure, an oil discharge conduit in said casing extending through said packer to below the surface of said oil supply, means for creating a pressure in said chamber and means controlled by said pressure for connecting said source of air to said air supply conduit for forcing a body of oil through said discharge conduit.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and means actuated by said discharged body of oil for disconnecting said source of air under pressure from said air supply conduit.

3. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination, a casing extending to the oil supply,- a packer disposed in said casing adjacent conduit, means for supplying a volume of air to said oil supply for sealing said casing and forminga chamber below said packer, an air supply conduit in said casing extending through said packer, a source of air under pressure, an oil discharge conduit in said casing extending throu h said packer to below the surface of said oil supply and periodically acting means for successively exhausting pressure from said chamber, supplying a volume of air to said chamber and connecting said chamber to said source of air under pressure.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and a pressure means to which said chamber is connected after said volume of air has been supplied thereto acting to connect said source of air under pressure to said chamber.

5. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination, a casing extending to the oil supply, a packer disposed in said casing adjacent said oil supply, an air supply. conduit in said casing extending through said packer, a source of air under pressure, ,an oil discharge conduit in said casing extending through said packer to below the surface of said oil supply, means for discharging a volume of air through said air supply conduit above said oil supply to form a pressure thereabove and means for supplying air under pressure through said air'supply conduit should said pressure exceed a certain amount.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, said first mentioned means including an air reservoir and means for periodically charging it with air under pressure. p

7. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination, a casingextending to the oil supply, a packer disposed in said casing adjacent the oil supply, a comparatively small conduit in said casing extending through said packer, a source of air under pressure, an oil discharge conduit in said casing extending through said packer to below the surface of the oil supply, means for discharging a volume of air through said first mentioned conduit to form a pressure above said oil supply and automatically acting means for connecting said first mentioned conduit to a supply of air under pressure to force oil through said second mentioned conduit if said last mentioned pressure is above a certain amount.

8. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination, a casing extending to the oil supply, a packer disposed in said casing adjacent the oil supply, a comparatively small conduit in said casing extending through said packer, a source of air under pressure, an oil discharge conduit'in said casing extending through said packer to below the surface of the oilsupply, means for connecting the space below said packer to the atmosphere to exhaust any pressure therein, means for supplying a volume of air to said space to form a pressure, a supply of air under pressure and means for connecting said. supply of air to said first mentioned conduit to force oil through said discharge conduit if said last mentioned pressure is above a certain amount.

9. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination, a casing extending to the oil supply, a packer disposed in said casing adjacent said oil supply, a comparatively small conduit in said casing extending through said packer, a source of air'under pressure, an oil discharge conduit in said casing extending through said packer to below the surface of said oil supply, a

- source of air under pressure adapted to be connected to said first mentioned conduit, a pressure valve shutting oil! said source of air from said for forcingoil through said discharge conduit.

said first mentioned conduit and to said space below said packer to form a pressure therein, a

pilot valve operated by said last mentioned pressure ii the same is above a certain point and acting to supply air pressure to said pressure valve to open the same and connect said source of air under pressure to said first mentioned conduit 10. The structure set forth in claim 9 and -means in said discharge conduit acted upon by said discharged oil for relieving the pressure at said pressure valve and permitting the same to close.

11. The structure set forth in claim 9, means adjacent the top or said discharge conduit acted upon by the oil discharged for relieving the pressure on said pressure valveto permit the same to close and for relieving the pressure on said pilot valve to permit the same to move to normal position.

12. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination a casing extending to the oil supply, a packer disposed in said casing adjacent said oil supply, an air supply conduit in said casing extending through said packer, a source of air under pressure, an oil discharge conduitv in said casing extending throughsaid packer to below the surface of 'the oil supply, a driven control valve for connecting said air supply conduit to the atmosphere to exhaust any pressure below said packer, a source of air under pressure, said driven valve acting subsequently to connect said source of air to said air supply conduit to supply air to the chamber below said packer above said oil supply to force a body of oil through said oil valve for connecting said air supply conduit to theatmosphere to exhaust any pressure below said packer, a source of air under pressure adapted to be connected to said air supply conduit, a pressure valve shutting ofi said supply of air under pressure from said air supply conduit, a pilot valve, said driven valve acting to connect said air supply to said pilot valve to connect said chamber below said packer to said pilot valve, said pilot valve acting to connect said source of air under pressure to said pressure valve to open the same and connect said source of air to said air supply conduit if said pressure below said packer is sumcient.

14. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination, a casing extending to the oil supply, means forming a closed chamber in the lower part of said casing adapted to receive oil, the air space of said chamber being varied in accordance with the amount of oil flowing thereinto, an air supply conduit extending to said chamber, means-for supplying a certain volume of air under pressure to said chamber to create a pressure therein, an oil discharge conduit, and means .for utilizing the pressure formed in said chamber for supplying air to said chamber to discharge oil through said oil discharge conduit.

I supply, means sealing said casing adjacent said oil supply to form a chamber above the oil supply the air space of which will vary in accordance -ber, a larger discharge conduit extending into said oil supply. means for discharging a certain volume of air through said small conduit to said air space'to create a pressure therein varying inversely to the amount of oil in said chamber and means for utilizing said pressure for supplying further air through said small conduit to force oil through said-discharge conduit.

16. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination, a casing extending to the oil supply, means forming a chamber at the lower end of said casing above the oil supply the air space of which will vary in accordance with the amount oi oil flowing thereinto, an air supply conduit extending to said chamber, a discharge conduit extending into said oil supply, means for discharging a certain volume of air through said air supply conduit to said air space to create a pressure therein varying inversely to the amount of oil in said chamber, a source 0! air under pressure, means for successively connecting said air supply conduit to the atmosphere and to said source of air under pressure to deliver a certain amount of air into said chamber to create a pressure therein and means for utilizing said pressure if suflicient to supply air under pressure to said air supply conduit for forcing oil through said discharge conduit.

17. An apparatus for blowing an oil well having in combination, a casing extending to the oil supply having a closed chamber adjacent the bottom thereof adapted to receive oil from the oil supply, an air supply conduit extending to said chamber, a source of air under pressure, an

oil discharge conduit extending to said chamber and below the surface of said oil supply and periodically acting means for successively relievlng air pressure from said chamber, supplying a' volume of air to said chamber and connecting said chamber to said source of air under pressure.

JOHN B. HAWLEY, JR. 

